Born on this Day in History: December 29, 1938 - Jon Voight was born in Yonkers, New York. His 1969 role in Midnight Cowboy launched his career. For the next two decades, his film career was a mix of incredible highs and forgettable misses. After appearing in the 1995 drama Heat, he once again began to star in big budget offerings. In recent years, he has enjoyed a resurgence as a sought-after character actor.

On this Day in History: December 29, 1993 - Former child star Todd Bridges (who played Willis on "Different Strokes") arrested for transportation of methamphetamine.

Born on this Day in History: December 28, 1954 - Born in Mount Vernon, NY, on December 28, 1954, Denzel Washington first studied journalism at Fordham University but then discovered an interest in acting. He made his feature film debut in the comedy A Carbon Copy (1981) and was cast in the hit TV medical drama "St. Elsewhere" (1982-88). He went on to appear in several blockbuster movies and won Oscars for his roles in Glory and Training Day.

On this Day in History: December 28, 1983 - Dennis Wilson, original drummer of the Beach Boys, drowned while diving from a boat near Marquesas Pier.

Born on this Day in History: December 27, 1901 - Born in Berlin, Germany, Marlene Dietrich had the given name Maria Magdalene Dietrich. In her teens, she gave up music to explore acting. She appeared in her first film, Tragedy of Love, in 1923.

On this Day in History: December 27, 1992 - Harry Connick, Jr., was arrested at Kennedy Airport in New York City after telling authorities he had an unloaded 9mm pistol in his luggage, which he said he had forgotten that his sister had given to him.

Born on this Day in History: December 26, 1921 - American entertainer and songwriter, Steve Allen started out working as a radio comedian during the 1940s before moving to late-night television. Allen created and hosted "The Tonight Show" (1954–57) and "The Steve Allen Show" (1956–60). He also hosted "Meeting of Minds." He composed over 3,000 songs, wrote over 50 books, and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On this Day in History: December 26, 2004 - A 9.15 magnitude earthquake in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sumatra unleashes a series of powerful tsunamis. Just under 230,000 people are either killed or missing. The Sumatra-Andaman earthquake affects a huge geographical area from Indonesia to Bangladesh to Somalia, even triggering earthquakes in Alaska.

Born on this Day in History: December 22, 1915 - Actress Barbara Billingsley had an acting career that spanned more than thirty years. But her best known role was as housewife June Cleaver on TV's "Leave it to Beaver" (1957–1963). Another notable performance was in 1980's Airplane!, in which demure Billingsley famously translated street slang, proclaiming, "I speak jive."

On this Day in History: December 22, 1984 - Bernhard Goetz shoots 4 teenage boys on the NYC subway after one of them asks him for money.

Born on this Day in History: December 21, 1955 - Jane Kaczmarek is an American actress best known for her role as Lois in the TV series "Malcolm in the Middle." Before landing the role which eventually garnered seven Emmy Award nominations, Kaczmarek appeared on other shows, including "Law & Order," "Touched by an Angel," and "Cybill." Besides acting, Kaczmarek founded the charity The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation with her husband Bradley Whitford.

On this Day in History: December 21, 1970 - prescription drug addict Elvis Presley at the White House to discuss The King's becoming a special drug enforcement agent. He presents Nixon with a pistol, and receives a special DEA badge in return.

Born on this Day in History: December 20, 1954 - Sandra Cisneros was born on December 20, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois. Her novel The House on Mango Street, about a young Latina woman coming of age in Chicago, has sold more than two million copies. Cisneros has received numerous awards for her work, including the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship and the Texas Medal of the Arts. She lives in San Antonio, Texas.

On this Day in History: December 20, 1971 - Talk show host Larry King, host of CNN's "Larry King Live," arrested in Miami on charges of grand larceny.

Scripture of the Day

Words of Jesus of the Day

"Give Your All To God":

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.' (Mark 8 : 34-38 - ESV)

Born on this Day in History: December 19, 1972 - ctress Alyssa Milano stepped into the spotlight at the age of 8, when she appeared in a national tour of the musical Annie. At the age of 10, she landed a starring role in the sitcom "Who's the Boss?," and as an adult starred on the WB drama, "Charmed." She's currently running her own fashion line for female sports fans called Touch, writes a blog about the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On this Day in History: December 19, 1991 - Yankee's pitcher Steve Howe arrested for criminal possession of cocaine. It's merely one of NINE TIMES this has happened (and seven suspensions, plus one drunk driving arrest.)

Scripture of the Day

Jesus Quote of the Day

"The Good Shepherd":

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.' (John 10 : 14-18 - ESV)

Born on this Day in History: December 16, 1775 - One of the most celebrated English authors, Jane Austen expressed the comedic manners and romances of middle-class life in England. Despite the fact that Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Emma garnered little praise during her lifetime, her brilliantly expressed social commentary cemented her historical importance. Many of her works have been portrayed on stage and screen.

On this Day in History: December 16, 1977 - The pinnacle of the Disco era attained with the release of the polyester-clad film Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta.

Scripture of the Day

Words of Jesus of the Day

"Love your Enemies":

43 You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? (Matthew 5 : 43-47 - ESV)

Born on this Day in History: December 15, 1949 - After a few memorable film roles in the 1970s, Don Johnson landed the part of a lifetime in 1984 as Sonny Crockett on TV’s "Miami Vice." The series lasted until 1989, earning Johnson a Golden Globe Award and celebrity status. He followed the series with performances in TV movies, including The Long Hot Summer. During the 1990s, Johnson enjoyed another career renaissance as the star of "Nash Bridges."

On this Day in History: December 15, 1961 - Nazi Adolf Eichmann, former Reichssicherheitshauptamt bureaucrat, is sentenced to death by a Jerusalem court. Eichmann had been arrested in Argentina and smuggled to Israel the previous year.

Born on this Day in History: December 14, 1946 - American actress Patty Duke became the youngest person ever to win the Academy Award for her portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker at age 16. As her success on the screen continued, she began to privately unravel due to drug and alcohol abuse and manic-depression. She is best known for her rein as the Queen of TV Movies, starring in cult classics like Valley of the Dolls and Me, Natalie.

On this Day in History: December 14, 1991 - A ferry near Safaga, Egypt on the Red Sea strikes a coral reef, drowning more than 460 passengers.